During the part which includes Rick Wright's synth solo, the sounds of dogs barking can be heard; this sound effect was created by processing the sound using a vocoder.
Guitarist David Gilmour and bassist Roger Waters share vocal duties in the song. Gilmour sings the majority of the song, but Waters takes over during the last two verses. On performances of the track on the band's 1977 "In the Flesh" tour, Gilmour would sing almost all of the song except for the last verse, use electric guitar for the whole track (instead of the acoustic guitars) and performed an extra guitar solo.
Dogs are used to represent the megalomaniacal businessmen who destroy themselves and those around them by obsessing over their egos and their careers. A number of comparisons are made and metaphors used to show how close these businessmen are with dogs, for example "Got to be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed" the meat representing deals and opportunities for the businessmen. It is a long, increasingly haunting song at over seventeen minutes.
The final verse explores a number of aspects of business life and how it compares to dogs, for example taking chances and being "trained not to spit in the fan", losing their individuality "broken by trained personnel", obeying their superiors "fitted with collar and chain", getting treats for good behaviour "given a pat on the back", being better than everyone else "breaking away from the pack" and getting to know everyone but spending less time with family "only a stranger at home". Every line of this verse begins with the word "Who", which prompted comparison to Allen Ginsberg's poem Howl.
This song and the use of the word "Who" at the beginning of every line of the final verse also illustrates the influence that Roy Harper had on the band. Roy Harper had used this technique on the song "The Lord's Prayer" from his 1973 Lifemask album. Harper sang over 90 lines of a verse beginning with the words "whose" and "who". Roy Harper also sang on the song "Have a Cigar" from the Wish You Were Here album.
The song concludes with these "Dogs" working themselves to death until they are "found dead on the phone" having been dragged down by "the stone", a metaphor for "the weight they used to need to throw around".
During their tour in 1974 Pink Floyd played three new songs in the first half of the shows, followed by the whole of the The Dark Side of the Moon album. Those three new songs were "You Gotta Be Crazy" (which would later become "Dogs"), "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and "Raving And Drooling" (which would later become "Sheep").
During 1974 performances of "You Gotta Be Crazy", David Gilmour would sing the song in a faster speed than the versions on the 1975 US tour and the Animals album. "You Gotta Be Crazy" was about the problems one had to deal with in life. The lyrics were modified by the time the song was played live in 1975 and then the lyrics changed again when recording Animals.
Both "You Gotta Be Crazy" and "Raving And Drooling" were originally planned to be on the album following the tour Wish You Were Here, but the plans were changed (which later became a point of dispute between Gilmour and Waters, as an early sign of their later animosity) and they both ended up in different forms on Animals.
During live performances as part of Roger Waters' recent solo tours, he and the other musicians would play a hand of poker during the breakdown in the middle of the song. David Gilmour's vocal parts are sung by Jon Carin.
Dogs
Pink Floyd Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking
And after a while, you can work on points for style
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
So that when they turn their backs on you,
You'll get the chance to put the knife in
You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder
You know it's going to get harder, and harder, and harder as you get older
And in the end you'll pack up and fly down south
Hide your head in the sand,
Just another sad old man
All alone and dying of cancer
And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone
And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around
So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone
Dragged down by the stone (stone, stone, stone, stone, stone)
I gotta admit that I'm a little bit confused
Sometimes it seems to me as if I'm just being used
Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise
If I don't stand my own ground, how can I find my way out of this maze?
Deaf, dumb, and blind, you just keep on pretending
That everyone's expendable and no-one has a real friend
And it seems to you the thing to do would be to isolate the winner
And everything's done under the sun
And you believe at heart, everyone's a killer
Who was born in a house full of pain
Who was trained not to spit in the fan
Who was told what to do by the man
Who was broken by trained personnel
Who was fitted with collar and chain
Who was given a pat on the back
Who was breaking away from the pack
Who was only a stranger at home
Who was ground down in the end
Who was found dead on the phone
Who was dragged down by the stone
The lyrics to Pink Floyd's "Dogs" seem to be a commentary on the ruthless business world and the cutthroat nature of succeeding in such an environment. The first verse describes the necessity of being cunning, quick, and heartless in order to succeed within it. The second verse emphasizes the importance of trust and loyalty, but at the same time, encourages betrayal for personal gain. In the following verse, it becomes clear that this attitude has consequences, causing the singer to live in fear and eventually die alone and unfulfilled.
The final verses suggest a broader societal commentary, expressing disillusionment with the capitalist system in which those born into pain and oppression are doomed to die the same way. The lines "Deaf, dumb, and blind, you just keep on pretending / That everyone's expendable and no-one has a real friend" are particularly powerful, as they seem to indicate that the nature of the competitive business world creates a culture in which people are isolated and friendship and compassion are undervalued.
The final verse is especially poignant, as it paints a bleak picture of a person ground down by an oppressive system, robbed of any individuality or sense of agency, and ultimately doomed to die alone.
Overall, "Dogs" is a powerful commentary on the dangers of cutthroat corporate culture and the oppressive, isolating effects it can have on individuals.
Line by Line Meaning
You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need
To be successful in life, you must be driven by an intense need that others may perceive as insanity.
You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street
You must always be alert and attentive, even in mundane and seemingly safe situations.
You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed
To survive, you must be able to quickly identify vulnerable targets, even when you are not actively looking.
And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight
Once you have identified a target, you must approach it with stealth and caution, using the wind to conceal your presence.
You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking
When the opportunity arises, you must act decisively and without hesitation, relying on your instincts and training.
And after a while, you can work on points for style
Over time, you can refine your techniques and develop a personal style or flair.
Like the club tie, and the firm handshake
Small details such as a nice tie or a confident handshake can make a big difference in how others perceive you.
A certain look in the eye and an easy smile
Body language and facial expressions can convey confidence and trustworthiness, even if they are not genuine.
You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to
To be successful at deception, you must gain the trust of your targets, even as you lie to them.
So that when they turn their backs on you,
Once you have gained their trust, your targets will be vulnerable and unaware of your true intentions.
You'll get the chance to put the knife in
You can take advantage of their vulnerability to hurt or deceive them further.
You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder
Success can make you a target, so you must always be alert and cautious even after reaching the top.
You know it's going to get harder, and harder, and harder as you get older
As you age, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain success and power, and the risks and stakes become higher.
And in the end you'll pack up and fly down south
Inevitably, success will come to an end or be declined, and you will have to retire or move on.
Hide your head in the sand,
Sometimes, the best you can do is to avoid or ignore your problems and responsibilities.
Just another sad old man
Regardless of your accomplishments and status, you will still age and face the same eventual fate as everyone else.
All alone and dying of cancer
Death and sickness are inevitable and indiscriminate, and can afflict even the most successful and powerful.
And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown
If you become careless or reckless, you will suffer the consequences of your actions and choices.
And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone
As you become more afraid and paranoid, your relationships and reputation will suffer and become more negative and hostile.
And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around
Once you have become accustomed to your wealth and power, it is difficult to go back to being less influential or less wealthy.
So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone
Sometimes, the only way out of a difficult situation is to give up and let it consume you completely.
Dragged down by the stone (stone, stone, stone, stone, stone)
The burdens and consequences of your actions can become overwhelming and inescapable.
I gotta admit that I'm a little bit confused
Even with all the success and power, one can still feel lost or uncertain about their reality and purpose.
Sometimes it seems to me as if I'm just being used
Despite apparent success or achievement, one can feel that their life and actions are ultimately meaningless or serving someone else's agenda.
Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise
To maintain a sense of purpose and meaning, one must be aware of and fight against the numbness and complacency that can come with success.
If I don't stand my own ground, how can I find my way out of this maze?
To achieve true success and fulfillment, one must be true to themselves and their own values, even if it means going against the norm or expectations of others.
Deaf, dumb, and blind, you just keep on pretending
Many people live their lives blindly and without questioning the status quo, content to pretend that everything is fine as it is.
That everyone's expendable and no-one has a real friend
In a world focused on success and power, individual people and relationships can be easily expendable and disposable.
And it seems to you the thing to do would be to isolate the winner
Success can come at the expense of others, and the desire to isolate oneself from others and protect one's gains can be overwhelming.
And everything's done under the sun
Despite all the complexity and mystery of life, everything ultimately happens under the sun and can be seen for what it is.
And you believe at heart, everyone's a killer
The ruthless and competitive nature of success can make one cynical and distrustful of others, believing that everyone is ultimately looking to take advantage or harm others.
Who was born in a house full of pain
The origins of a person's struggles and desires can often be traced back to their upbringing and early experiences.
Who was trained not to spit in the fan
Individuals often learn early in life how to navigate difficult situations and avoid negative outcomes by learning from others' mistakes.
Who was told what to do by the man
Individuals can often feel trapped or confined by societal expectations and cultural norms, being forced to conform to the expectations of authority figures.
Who was broken by trained personnel
Individuals can often feel dehumanized and broken by experiences of trauma or abuse, perpetrated by those who are supposed to be there to help them.
Who was fitted with collar and chain
Individuals can often feel constrained or limited in their choices or opportunities by the circumstances of their upbringing or environment.
Who was given a pat on the back
Individuals can often feel that their accomplishments or achievements are minimal or insignificant compared to the expectations and standards of others.
Who was breaking away from the pack
Individuals can often feel the pull of societal expectations or cultural norms and have to struggle to break free and forge their own path.
Who was only a stranger at home
Individuals can often feel alienated or disconnected from those closest to them, as they try to find their own place in the world and make sense of their own experiences.
Who was ground down in the end
Individuals can often feel the cumulative weight of their experiences and struggles, leading them to feel worn down and exhausted.
Who was found dead on the phone
Despite all the effort and struggle that goes into life, it can ultimately end up being a lonely and bleak experience.
Who was dragged down by the stone
In the end, the struggles and burdens of life can weigh heavily on individuals, dragging them down until they feel they can no longer go on.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID JON GILMOUR, ROGER WATERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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